A screenshot from the crime scene. PHOTO: SCREEN SHOT
MARDAN:
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Police on Thursday claimed to have solved the high-profile double murder of a Sikh couple in Baboo Mohalla, Mardan, after arresting a serving police officer who allegedly carried out the killings over a personal grievance stemming from his transfer from a gurdwara security assignment.
Addressing a press conference, Mardan District Police Officer (DPO) Masood Ahmad Bangash said the suspect was arrested within 24 hours of the incident following an intensive investigation.
According to police, the suspect allegedly shot Jagannath, a sevadar (caretaker) of a local gurdwara, and his wife, Asawanti, at their residence in Baboo Mohalla on Wednesday.
Senior police officials attended the press briefing.
Read more: Sikh caretaker couple gunned down in Mardan
The DPO said investigators collected evidence from the crime scene and analyzed CCTV footage, mobile phone records and other technical data to identify and trace the suspect.
Preliminary findings indicated that the suspect had previously been posted at the gurdwara but was transferred around three years ago. Police believe he harbored resentment over the transfer and allegedly committed the murders out of personal enmity and a desire for revenge.
Bangash said the arrest was made possible through a coordinated effort by investigative teams who looked into all aspects of the case before nabbing the suspect.
He added that further investigations were underway and assured that the case would be pursued strictly on merit. The police plan to submit a comprehensive charge sheet to the court to ensure that the suspect is brought to justice.
The killings had sparked widespread concern among members of the Sikh community and the wider public.
